Coiling-machine.



A. MOMURTRIE.

001mm MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED OUT. 1, 1910. 1 ,117,684;. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

3 SKEETSSHBET 1.

Fig: 5.

A. MOMUB-TRIE.

001mm MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.1, 1910. 1,1 17,684, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. MQMURTRIE.

001mm MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1910.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5,94 M2 233 245 395 Fig. 7.

MT/VESSES. MWWl/E/V 70/9.

UNI ED stratrns PATENT OFFICE.

A'IDNAE' lMIOHURTBIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS & BET'IS COMPANY, OF NEW,-YORK, N. .Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' GOILING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, ADNAI-I MCMURTRIE, ofNew York, N. Y., have invented certain Improvements in Coiling-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like references on the rawings designating like parts. I I p This invention relates to coiling machines, and is of particular utility when employed in apparatus for manufacture of the helically coiled metal strip used as a protective armor sheath for insulated electrical conductors, although I contemplate the use of my improvements in any field to which they are adapted by their nature.

An important object of my invention is to provide apparatus for, setting'the somewhat resilient metal strip of which such sheaths are usually formed, after it has been coiled helically by suitable shaping devices, so that the convolutions of the completed sheath will retain without substantial change the identical helical relation imparted to the sheath by the coiling apparatus.

The method will be made the subject of a divisional application.

Another important object of my invention is to provide apparatus adapted to manufacture such a sheath either as a tube constituting a separate entity to receive any suitable contents, or in combination with such articles as hose or an insulated conductor or conductors introduced to the bore of the sheath concurrently with its formation, as in the flexible armored conductor or cable well known to those skilled in the art.

When a plurality of insulated conductors are covered by a single sheath, frequently they are twisted together so that their periphery does not present a cylindrical con tour, and as a. sheath of a cylindrical contour is for most purposes the best and most economical form to manufacture, an important object of my invention is to provide means capable of forming a sheath having a bore closely approximating in diameter the twisted insulator conductor to be contained therein, without relying upon the conductors to perform any function in shaping the sheath, and preferably obviating the use of any interior mandrel or adventitious shaping device other than the exterior rolls which constitute the preferred form of means in my improved apparatus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Octoher 1, 1910. Serial No. 584,928.

I Patented Nov. 1'7, 1914.

lateral curvature to the heavy armor strip now required commercially, before it is introduced to the rolls which form the helix.

According to my improved method of coiling, I first shape helically the strip to be coiled, and then set the helix, and this may be performed by any suitable means and at any suitable interval of time and space, but in the preferred form of apparatus which I have devised for the above purpose, I have organized in a single machine a plurality of rolls constructed and arranged for engagement with the strip in a. helical path, and operating in compact relation, so that the strip is offset, shaped and set in helical convolutions within a space of a few inches along the axis of the completed sheath.

I may, furthermore, perform conveniently in this machine the operation of reducing a helical sheath of relatively larger diameter to a smaller diameter. For this urpose I contemplate the use of tapered setting means. I may also utilize said machine for the application of the sheath to an insulated conductor concurrently with the formation of the sheath, or to a hosepipe or similar article to be armored.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated and described. fully in the accompanying drawings and specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine for manufacturing flexible metallic armored cable in accordance with my invention, and in the construction of which my improvements have been embodied; Fig.2 is a conventional sectional view on a larger scale, taken on the line w w Fig. 1, looking from right to left, parts being shown in elevation; Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views in detail of modified forms of setting-roll; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the form of stripto be coiled; and Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively views similar to 2 of modified forms of apparatus;

while Fig. 8 shows in elevation, .and Fig. 9

. in'vertical section, a setting die of modified convenient form of apparatus to permit a.-

ready and complete understanding of the manner in which my improvements may be carried into effect, the

shown as a roll in the instance illustrated, to which is led a strip 5 of suitable material to be coiled into a helical sheath 10, the roll having a peripheral forming-surfacefi suitable to be engaged with the curved outer surface 7 of the strip, and .by such engagement to take of the strip.

.To cooperate with roll 1 in efiectmg this deformation, I may provide other forming part in the helical deformation devices of any suitable number and contour,

arranged in any suitable relation, and in the instance illustrated Ihave shown in all four rolls, 1, 2, 3 and 4 whose peripheral forming surfaces 6 are so located along their respective axes that when led past each of these ridges for one complete turn the strip 5 will be formed into one complete helical convolution, being deformed laterally along its axis sufficiently to acquire the helical lay of desired pitch. I prefer to drive these rolls 1, 2, 3 and 4 positively, so that the helical sheath being formed will be given a for-,

ward-rot'ativc movement which clears it from -the rolls as it is formed, the edge 8 of the strip being interlocked with the edge 9 of' the I succeeding convolution, in wellknownarrangement, and the coiled strip being advanced thus for the setting operation, which constitutes another step in the efiectuation of my invention, and may be accomplished by any suitable means.

s one convenient form of means to drive the rolls 1, 2, 3 and 4 positively, I have shown them .as provided respectively with arbors 31, upon which the rolls are secured by keys 32, these arbors being shown as journaled in suitable supports 40 and 41 secured removably, as by bolts 42, upon a base 43, these parts being of any desired construction and arrangement suitable to support the arbors 31 rotatably. The actuation of the arbors 31 may in turn be accomplished by any suitable-means, and I have shown for this purpose gears 33, one for, and keyed at 34 to, each of the arbors, these gears intermeshing respectively with a central pinion 50 keyed at 51 upon a central shaft 60 which preferably extends through central bearings 61 in the standards 41 and 40 to a region where it may be connected actuatively with a suitable source of power, the shaft being shown as provided, for this purpose, with a pinion 63 secured to the shaft 6O by a key 64 andtobe engaged part designated by the reference numeral 1 1s a shaping device,

The shaft 60 may be hollow if desired, its bore 65 serving at times to 'convey to the interior of the helical sheath suchan article as the twisted, insulated conductor 70,.

which it may be desired to armor,and this hollow shaft 60 and helical sheath 10, within which sheath said conductor may fit with any degree of closeness, a frictional contact being preferred in order to facilitate con-' current feeding of the conductor and sheath.

Reverting now to themeans for accomplishing the setting operation, I have shown as one form of such means a setting device; 80 comprising a roll or setof rolls con structed and arranged to be engaged with, and rollabout, the periphery of the helical sheath 10, having for that purpose a suitable helical thread 82 corres ending properlyin pitch with the convolutions of the sheath 10 and so located as to engage firmly with the periphery of the sheath 10 and set the strip in its proper helical form. If desired, these rolls may be tapered as shown in the modified form of roll illustrated at 83 in Fig. 3, to increase the setting pressure, and if found desirable the contour may be varied other- .conductor will preferably rotate with the contour shown as taking the form of a wise to meet the exigencies of particular installations, as for example, by adoption of iizl etapered smooth form 84 illustrated in Any suitable actuating means for the setting device may be employed, and as one such form of actuating device I have shown, a rotatable setting head 90, recessed as at 91 to receive in protected position the rolls mounted on screw studs 92, the head having a neck 93 95 of the base, a collar 96 with concealed set-screw 97 serving as one convenient form of means to hold the head in place; This setting head may' be rotated by suitable actuating mechanism (not shown) for which purpose the pinion 98 isshown as a suitable gearing, andthe setting head mayhave a suitable bore 99 for discharge of the shaped and set armor sheath 10.

In the modified form of apparatus illus- A .10 journaled at 94 in an upright trated in Fig. 6, the base 143, standards 140,- 4

141 secured. thereto by bolts 142, the forming rolls 101, 102, with forming-surfaces 106 and keyed at 132 re'spectivelyxto arbors 131 provided with gears 133 keyed thereto at i of machine, however, with a mandrel 166 by extending the hollow shaft 160 forward to a region between the setting devices, so that the strip 105 is first shaped helically at a relatively large diameter and thereafter,

during the setting operation the helical sheath is worked down, over the tapered forepart 155, of the mandrel, by the setting ,rolls 180 which are provided with a helical peripheral forming surface 182 preferably, and are shown as carried by arbors 192 journaled in a setting head 190 mounted to rotate within a housing stand 195, provided with means, such as a screw stud 197 entering a groove 196 in the setting head to retain the latter in place. When actuated, as by the pinion 198, through suitable gearing (not shown) the setting rolls 180 act upon the helical sheath 110, tending constantly to pull it along its axis down from the tapered forepart 155 of the mandrel with which the sheath is rotating, and the sheath will eventually be reduced as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 6, will be set in final form and then discharged through the aperture 199 of the setting head. If desired, an insulated conductor 170 may be thus covered, in the manner described with reference to Fig. 1, being introduced to the hollow shaft at 165. I

Passing to the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, the setting head 290 therein shown is provided with several sets of setting-rolls each comprising a series of disk-like members 280 having preferably helical surfaces 282 correspondmg in pitch with the convolutions of the helical sheath 210 upon which they act just as. do the tapered helical rolls 180 of the machine shown in Fig. 6, these setting disks being keyed at 392 to arbors 292 journaled in the setting head. I may, and prefer to, provide these arbors with pinions 393 meshing with a circular rack 394- fastened by pins 395 to the stand 295 so that when the setting head is rotated by means of its outer pinion 298 the setting disks 280 will be caused to rotate positively, drawing the helical sheath 210 down from the taper 255 of the mandrel 266 and out through the discharge aperture 299, these parts corresponding in function and operation with similar parts already described. vSo, also, no detailed description is needed for a proper understanding of the structure and mode of operation of the hollow mandrel shaft 260 rotating in standards 240 and 241, bolted at 242 to the base 243, the shaft serving, when actuated by its gear 263 to rotate the shap ing rolls 201, 202, through their arbors 231 and {gears 233 meshing with the gear 250 keye to the shaft 260, inasmuch as the treatment of the armor strip 205 by thefomiing-roll-surfaces 206 proceeds in es-' sential respects similarly to the mode of operation hereinbefore described. An insulated-conductor, as that shown at 270, may be thus armored, in the manner already described herein, and which will be understood readily by those skilled in the art.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown amodified form of setting device comprising settingsurfaces 382 formed upon setting members supported in any suitable manner for application to the periphery of the convolutions of a helical tube, and portions of'these surfaces 382 may be inclined relatively to the axis of the helix as shown in their full-line position, for the purpose of reducing. the diameter of the helix to a substantial extent after its helical deformation, while a portion of the setting-surfaces may, as illustrated at the left hand of Fig. 9, be substantially parallel with the axis of the helix. The relative. proportions of these inclined and straight portions may be varied as desired and found suitable, and the setting-surfaces may be substantially straight or inclined throughout, if required. I

As one convenient form of support for these setting members 380 I have shown them as integral with a setting head 390 adapted to take; the place of the setting head 290 in the machine illustrated in Fig. 7, having a gear 398 like the gear 298, .by which the head may be rotated, and a groove .396 to receive theretaining screw 297. This setting head may be rovided with a hub as indicated by dotted lines 393, to enter the bearing-standard 95 of the machine shown in Fig. 2. The setting head may be split longitudinal] and bolted together, and the setting-sur aces 328'can take the form of an interrupted screw, as illustrated, to reduce friction, or they may be substantially continuous.

Having illustrated and described my invention thus fully, and suitable means for carrying the same into effect, I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the specific construction and materials shown and described by way of example, nor in general do I limit myself otherwise than as set forth in the claims read in connection with this specification.

I do not claim'specifically herein certain features which are made the subject matter of claims in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 584,924; 584,925; 584,926; 584,927, filed on the same date as my present application.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is

1. A coiling machine; comprising means to deform a strip helically; and a rotatable setter head having a series of planetary rolls revoluble upon axis parallel with the axis of said helix in peripheral engagement with said helix to compact the convolutions thereof. 4

2. Coiling apparatus; comprising a base;

a plurality of rolls having arbors-journaled in bearing carried by said base, said rolls being constructed and arranged to deform a strip helical ly, ahollow shaft through which articles may be introduced between said rolls; means to drive said shaft, and

-means connecting I said shaft aetuatively with said arbors; and a setting head also -with, said arbors; rolls rotatable by said arbors to deform a strip helically; and a series of setting rolls mounted revolubly on said setting head and presented thereby in position adjacent to said deforming rolls for planetary engagement with the periphcry of said helix, to-set the convolutions thereof. I

4. Coiling apparatus; comprising a mandrel; means cooperating therewith to coil a strip helically; a setting head; and a atlases series of setting-rolls mounted rotatably upon said head and revoluble thereupon in a planetary orbit, in peripheral engagement with said helix, said" setting rolls being tapered and provided with forming surfaces to reduce said helix in diameter. 5. A machine for armoring electrical conductors; comprising a hollow rotatable shaft constituting a mandrel, and having a tapered forepart; a series of rolls cooperating with said shaft to deform a strip helically; and a setting head rotatable adjacent to the tapered portion of saidm'andrel and setting rolls revoluble with said head about the axis of said shaft, said rolls being constructed and arranged to reduce the diameter of said helix upon the tapered portion of said mandrel to approximately the diameter of aconductor fed therethrough, and

said'setting rolls having a portion toset the convolutions of said helix at said reduced diameter.

Signed at New York in the county and State of-New York this 22nd day of Septem- 1 ADNAH'MGMURTRIE. -Witnesses:

WM. H. MCCORMIoK, ALEXANDER C; Pnoonrrr. 

